WELCOME TO

We hope all families enjoyed some relaxation and fun over the recent holidays.

Many of our families took the opportunity to travel within the state and discover some of the great features of New South Wales.

Many possibly chose to stay home and appreciate the wonderful local attractions and quite diverse hinterland.

We pray for those who have experienced new or continued challenge or hardship, that they find some respite and contentment in the coming weeks.

WELCOME TO SAM AND AMANDA

A special welcome back to Samantha Walters, who will be relieving staff through the term to contact families and allow staff the opportunity to engage in professional learning related to our school goals.

We also welcome Amanda Thomas, replacing Sharni Geary in 3 Green.

Great to have both Sammy and Amanda with us this term.

New families

A very warm welcome to Bethany Folkes (4 Red) and Brooklyn Fletcher (1 Blue) and their families. We know they will be embraced by our community.

Term 4 has much to highlight:

• Naidoc Week
• Book Week Parade - see article
• Year 6 Camp
• Year 6 Graduation
• Year 6 Transition
• Kinder Transition
• Swimming Carnival
• Summer Sports Trials
• Return of Band Practice
• Release of Dance production Video – ‘One Hit Wonders Dancing through the Generations’ - LINK TO VIDEO COMING VERY SOON!!!!!!!!
• FamDance Challenge
• District Schools Gala Rugby League day – Years 5 & 6
• Catholic Cluster Schools Gala Rugby League day Years 3 & 4
• School Assemblies – video production (even weeks beginning week 2)

Still under consideration

• The final format for Year 6 Graduation
• Final format for Kinder and Year 6 transitions
• End of year School Thanksgiving Mass
• Some form of Christmas celebration
• P & F meetings later in term
• Kinder Intensive Swimming Lessons

COVID 19 GUIDELINES TO BEGIN TERM

Toward the end of the holidays, schools received new guidelines for Term 4.

Most guidelines will continue from Term 3 with some slight easing in certain areas.

Students:

• Attending school on site unless unwell, usual roll marking and attendance applies.
• Not required to social distance from each other.
• Following school hygiene practices; including regular hand washing and sanitising of hands, use of personal drink bottles, no bubblers, no sharing of food.
• Required to stay home if experiencing symptoms of cold or flu, or awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test.

Staff:

• Continue social distancing from each other, parents/carers and other adults.
• Follow school hygiene practices.
• Stay home if experiencing symptoms of cold or flu, or awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test; and to provide the school with evidence of a negative result to return.

Parents and Carers:

• Continue social distancing from each other and staff.
• Continue current drop off and collection procedure.
• Attend the office only if necessary but not stay in the school unless for an approved meeting. All visitors must complete the visitor acknowledgement form.
• Adhere to physical distancing in the office. We request that only two adults be in the office foyer at any time. Please wait outside the entry door until there is space in the office if it is a busy time.
• Sign in and out students, arriving late or leaving early.
• Follow school hygiene practices; including using hand sanitiser on entering the school.
• Advise the school of a COVID-19 test for any member of the family. Students who are well and not being tested for COVID-19 in the family can attend school.
• Inform the school of students that have had a COVID-19 test and are awaiting a result before returning to school. In addition, parents are required to provide a copy of the text message received from the testing facility, to the school email ​pmacp@lism.catholic.edu.au​ prior to the students return.
• Inform the school immediately if a family member receives a positive COVID-19 test result or have been in contact with someone who has, so that the school can manage it’s protocol for community risk and safety.

Visiting education service providers (eg. Band Tutors):

• Follow hygiene, distancing and safety protocols.
• Sign in and complete health and safety compliance documents before entering the school.

Activities currently allowed for Term 4:

• Learning​ activities, assemblies and prayer services within grade or stage cohorts.
• Library​ access and book borrowing.
• Use of the ​canteen​.
• Face-to-face parent/teacher meetings​ that are essential with social distancing.
• In school ​sport​ and inter-school sport with no parent/carer spectators or volunteers and limit mixing with students from other schools while not playing the sport.
• Incursions​/external adult providers to support curriculum delivery or information, with distancing and hygiene requirements (eg. music tutors, drama tutors, sport skills etc).
• Use of school grounds for approved groups after school (eg. sport coaching).
• Limited inter-school events with a COVID-19 plan in place.
• Year 6 Graduation events - Families are unable to attend at this stage. Reviewed as soon as change communicated.  Further communication to Year 6 families next week.
• Year 7 Orientation​ can commence in line with High School plans.
• Kindergarten Transition Programs​ will be significantly reduced, with limited time. Further information provided next week.
• Excursions and field trips​ can recommence, under specific guidelines.
• Overnight activities​ may take place if accommodation facilities and organisers implement a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Activities ​on hold until further notice:

• Parent and carer attendance at school events and as volunteers in school.
• School-based activities involving large gatherings of adults; family functions/activities, fundraisers.

We will continue to communicate as new Guidelines come to hand. 

Thank you as always for your wonderful support.

CRAZY…….‘CURIOUS CREATURES AND WILD MINDS!’

This Wednesday – we ‘jump off the pages onto the pavement’, as we celebrate all of the wonderful features, literature has to offer.

The theme is a little weird and wacky this year so we are expecting plenty of costumes reflecting the 2020 theme to hit our pavement around 9:15am.

We will send out loads of photos and video snippets so you may be able to catch a glimpse of the weirdest and wackiest.

Some great Book Week costumes from 2019!!

OCTOBER - DYSLEXIA AWARENESS

St Peter’s has a number of great advocates in our school for Dyslexia.

Mrs Merrick, Intervention teacher, communicated the following recently to our staff: 

“NSW Mid North Coast talked to some awesome young people during Dyslexia Awareness Month. These amazing kids offer an insight into their dyslexia journeys, the upsides and challenges, and what helps them to thrive and succeed. We acknowledge and celebrate their bravery and tenacity to speak up and raise awareness to help improve the educational and life outcomes for all children who struggle to learn to read, write and spell.

The kids are from St Agnes' Parish and Harrison who has been helping with our sport makes an appearance! Please watch this short 5 minute clip.

Some of our landmarks such as the Glasshouse and Lighthouse will be glowing red during the month and St Agnes’ schools are assisting to raise awareness and have agreed to have their front school signage glow red yesterday.

Looking forward to becoming more aware and proactive in supporting our kids who have/may have this learning difficulty. - there is a lot we can do!"

(Thanks Mrs Merrick.)

Alex Slavin and Imogen Turnbull came to see Mr Leary on Wednesday to ask if it was possible for children to wear something red on Thursday to promote awareness for dyslexia.

Thanks very much to families for accommodating this great request at very short notice. Photos show how much the kids engaged and families supported.

PANDAMONIUM WITH PIZZAS AND POPPAS

Tummies were full and there seemed to be loads of additional energy after a multitude of pizzas and poppers were on the menu for lunch 1 today.

A big thanks to the Year 6 team of teachers and students who organised and facilitated our Pizza and Poppa Day.

Funds raised will directly support expenses for Year 6 camp.

SUMMER SPORTS TRIALS - A TOUGH LOGISTIC TASK

Thank you also to Mr Arkinstall who has worked extremely hard to make summer sports trials an opportunity for all children to attend.

Working out new guidelines, attempting to liaise with our local Catholic schools and finalising activities and entries has been a very complex task. Mr A always does it in a wonderful spirit and is driven to provide the best possible outcome for our children.

Socktober

October is World Mission Month, and a time when Catholic schools across Australia join together to participate in Socktober, a fun, interactive mission and social justice program.  Socktober is a fun way to engage students in information, advocacy, prayer and fundraising for Catholic Mission, where, together, we “sock it” to poverty!

St Peter’s will be celebrating Socktober on Thursday 29th October (Week 3). Students are invited to wear a pair of crazy socks with their school uniform on this day, and bring along a gold coin donation to raise funds for Catholic Mission. Our Social Justice Leaders from Year 6 will also be running some fun activities for students leading up to the big day!

This year, Catholic Mission’s project for World Mission Month is Cambodia, where the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, and the nearly twenty years of civil war that followed, is still felt today. Buried, unexploded landmines are still causing accidents across the country. Distressingly, although many organisations are working to clear these landmines, on average, 100 accidents and casualties still occur each year – and there is little support provided for these people. In 2001, the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang founded the Arrupe Centre to help children with disabilities, such as those caused by landmine explosions, access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Your gold coin donation will help Bishop Kike and the Arrupe Centre continue to make a difference to the lives of these children in Cambodia today. 

Dara's Story

Dara was only 11 years old when he lost his hand and most of his eyesight when he picked up an unexploded ordnance he found on his family farm. Concerned about being able to provide the special care and education now needed, Dara’s parents were grateful when the Arrupe Centre, established by Bishop Enrique ‘Kike’ Figaredo Alvargonzalez, offered their son a home and the support he needs. Now, two years on, Dara has been able to learn Braille, enjoys going to school and playing with his friends at the home. There are many more children like Dara who rely on the life-changing support provided by Bishop Kike and the Arrupe Centre. Your gift today can help the Centre reach out to children and young adults with disability and help empower them to create a bright future.

Chen's Story

At just 16 years old, Chen’s life changed in a moment when he stood on a landmine that took both of his legs. With his family already struggling to make ends meet, they were unsure if they would be able to provide the necessary care for Chen. Thankfully, Bishop Kike, offered a lifeline, which has opened up many doors for Chen. The Arrupe Centre, established by Bishop Kike in north-western Cambodia in 2001, has been a home for many people, especially children, with disability – helping to empower them and offer opportunities they might otherwise not have. However, there are many more children like Chen that rely on the support and care that the Arrupe Centre provides. By donating today, you can help restore dignity and empower people living with a disability, like Chen.

To learn more about the Arrupe Centre and to meet Dara and Chen, check out their videos on the Catholic Mission Website.

October - The Month of the Rosary

By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. 

The Rosary draws its mysteries from the New Testament and is centered on the great events of the Incarnation and Redemption with each decade referring to an event in the life of Jesus and Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary gives us “thumbnails” of the life of Christ and his Mother.

• The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from Saint Luke’s Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus’ childhood.
• The Luminous Mysteries bring a deeper understanding to the public life of Jesus. They fill in the blanks between the childhood of Jesus and His suffering and death on the cross.
• The Sorrowful Mysteries remind us of how much Jesus loves us. They recall how He suffered and died just for us.
• The Glorious Mysteries tell us what happened after Jesus died-His Resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit and the love Jesus had for his Mother.

Teaching Catholic Kids

Praying the Rosary can be daunting for children and adults alike, due to its length and complexity. In learning to pray the Rosary, you don’t have to say it all, you can shorten it by praying just one decade per day, or by saying just one Hail Mary each decade. 

If you are interested in learning how to pray the Rosary, this link will take you to a diagram and a copy of all the prayers you will need.